Game board for toy bowling game



4 April 13, 1965 F. R. GLASSMAN GAME BOARD FOR TOY BOWL ING GAME Filed July 5. 1961 in were to); 1?, GZassman,

Att ys.

United States Patent 3,178,184 GAME BGARD FOR TOY BOWLING GAME Frederick R. Glassman, Pawtucket, 11.1., assignor to Ford Products Company, Pawtucket, R.I., a corporation of Rhode island Filed July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,762 1 Claim. (Cl. 273108) The present invention relates to a toy bowling game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a game that includes a game board on which a plurality of toy bowling pins are placed, a top being provided that is adapted to be moved over the surface of the board into contact with the toy pins to simulate the action of an actual bowling game.

The toy game embodied herein is adapted to simulate actual bowling conditions, and for this purpose, a game board is provided on one end of which are placed a plurality of toy bowling pins. The pins are disposed in a triangular arrangement and are spaced apart in a predetermined manner so as to make the scoring in the game a matter of skill of the player. A specially constructed top is provided and is spun for movement across the playing surface of the game board to strike the pins, the number of pins being knocked down determining the score made by the game participant and further indicating the skill of the participant. In order to promote a generally forward movement of the spinning top, the gameboard of the present invention is formed with unequal supports at the corners thereof so as to be disposed in an inclined position. The construction of the spinning top and the inclination of the game board cause the top to advance across the board toward the pins in a generally undulating but forward motion. As the top strikes the pins, they are caused to fall, and in so doing, strike other pins in much the manner as in an actual bowling game.

In order to increase the skill required in the play of the toy bowling game herein, the pins are spotted in a predetermined spaced relation, the actual spacing between the pins having a definite relationship with respect to the height of the pins. This relationship prevents inadvertent falling of the toy pins and insures that the pins will only be knocked down by the spinning top or by the pins moved by the spinning top, thereby simulating the action in actual bowling. In order to prevent the bowling pins themselves from accidentally falling due to surface vibrations of the game board, the base of each pin has a definite relationship with respect to the largest diameter of the main body portion thereof, this relationship providing for stability of the pins and preventing their being knocked over unless actually struck by the spinning top or other pins that have been moved by the top.

Since the forward movement of the spinning top is dependent on a predetermined pitch of the game board, compensation must be made when the game board is placed on a surface which is uneven or not level. For this purpose, each of the legs that support the game board is adjustable in the corner in which it is mounted and may be easily adjusted by a simple turning motion whenever compensation for the proper pitch of the game board is necessary.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simulated bowling game for use with a spinning top wherein a plurality of toy pins are prearranged at one end of an inclined game board and are adapted to be knocked down by the spinning top that is advanced over the surface of the game board.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game board for use in a toy bowling game, a plurality of markings being located in predetermined relationship on the 3,178,184 Patented Apr. 13, 1955 game board for simulating the placement of pins in an actual bowling game, and being arranged so as to have a definite relationship with respect to the height of the toy pins located thereon.

Still another object is to provide a game board for use in a toy bowling game that is adapted to be disposed in an inclined position, the inclination of the game board being maintained at a predetermined pitch by means of adjustable corner supports, so as to result in an inclination that will induce a spinning top to travel in a generally straight line toward the pins.

Still another object is to provide a plurality of toy bowling pins for use in a toy bowling game wherein the base of the pins is constructed so as to prevent inadvertent toppling of the pins in playing of the bowling game.

Still another object is to provide a spinning top for use in a toy bowling game that is dynamically balanced so as to advance in a forwardly direction on an inclined game board when the proper spinning motion is imparted to the top.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the game board of the toy bowling game embodied herein, showing the place ment of the markings on which toy pins are located;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1 with a portion of the bottom wall of the marginal frame being broken away to show the adjustable corner support;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective View of the game board showing the location of the corner supports mounted thereunder;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one of the toy pins utilized in the toy bowling game embodied herein;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the spinning top that is utilized in the toy bowling game; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the top shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the toy bowling game embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The toy bowling game 19 includes a base 12 formed of any suitable rigid material such as wood or masonite and has a generally elongated rectangular configuration. Overlying the base 12 and conforming to the configuration thereof is a game board 14, the surface of which is highly polished. In order to provide the polished surface for the game board 14, any suitable material, such as glass or plastic, may be utilized, and in the present invention, a plastic sheet or coating, such as Mylar or melamine, is employed. The plastic sheet that defines the game board 14 is secured to the base .12 in any convenient manner, such as by an adheseive.

underlies the base 12, an indented side wall 19 which defines an enclosure wall for the game board 14, and a channel portion 21 which cooperates with the bottom wall 17 to receive the edges of the game board 14 and base 12 therein. The marginal frame 16 may also be constructed of any suitable material, but in the present invention it is fabricated of metal so as to lend a finished appearance to the assembly. The bottom and side walls 17, 19 may also be fabricated in sections and interconnected at their mating points, but in all forms of the invention the wall 19 will surround the game board to define an enclosure therefor, and said Wall is of suflicient height to enable the body of the spinning top to rebound therefrom.

As will be described hereinafter, it is essential that the game board 14 be disposed in a generally inclined position, and for this purpose the cor ers of the base 12 are supported in such a manner as to impart the required inclination to the game board. Referring particularly to H6. 3, the supports for the base 12 are indicated at A, B, C and D and are located at the corners of the base 12 in engagement with the bottom wall 17 of the marginal frame 16. In order to produce the required inclination of the game board 14, the supports A, B, C and D are all of an unequal height, the support A being utilized as the reference point, and the height thereof being zero. The remaining supports B, C and D are defined by legs 18, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 2. Each leg 13 has an integral shoulder 26 and an upper end 22 that is threaded for threadably engaging a threaded opening in the bottom wall 17 of the marginal frame 16. The lowermost end of each leg 18 has a rubber cushion 23 mounted thereon for engagement with the surface on which the bowling game is placed. As shown in FIG. 3, the supports A and D are shorter than the supports B and C, and therefore the inclination of the game board M will be in the direction of A and D. However, since the support C is the highest of the supports, the game board is caused to be further inclined in a direction toward supports A and B, the resulting pitch of the game board having a predetermined relation with respect to the movement of a spinning top thereon, as will be described.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, the playing surface of the game board 14 is illustrated and has marked thereon a starting area that is defined between the lateral lines 25 and 26 and a dead wood area defined by the longitudinal line 23 and the left-hand marginal frame 16. The game board 14 is further provided with a plurality of markings or spots indicated at 24 which as shown are numbered from 1 to ltl to simulate the markings of the pins in an actual bowling game. As shown in FIG. 1, some of the pin spots 24 are arranged so as to be-located a distance d away from an adjacent pin spot. The pin sopts separated by the distance d are positioned such that a straight line drawn therebetween is diagonal with respect to either the longitudinal or lateral axis of the game board. The pin spots are also separated from adjacent spots by the distance s, these latter spots being located such that a straight line drawn therebetween is parallel with respect to either the longitudinal or the lateral axis of the game board. Interest and excitement in the play of the game are necessarily increased if the scoring in the game is achieved by the skill of the player. For this reason,.and as will be set forth hereinafter, the pins utilized 'with the game board 14 have a definite relationship with the game. The relationship between the pins can best be illustrated by noting that the distance between the spots marked 1 and 3 is represented by the letter d, while the distance between the spots 8 and 9 and 2 andS is represented by the letter s. It will be noted that all of the diagonally located spots are equally separated, and similarly, the pin spots located on lines parallel or longitudinal with respect to the axis of the game board are equally spaced apart.

The placement of the pin spots 24 with respect to the marginal frames 16 is significant, and, as shown in FIG. 1, the pin spots are equally disposed between the longitudinal line 28 and the right-hand marginal frame 16. The distance between the number 10 pin spot and the right-hand marginal frame 16 is therefore considerably less than the distance between the number 7 pin spot and the left-hand marginal frame 16. The location of the pin spots for receiving the toy pins thereon, in the manner as shown, is particularly desirable since the spinning top, to

raise 1;. be described, is normally started in the starting area more closer to the right-hand marginal frame 16 so as to pre vent the drifting thereof toward the lowermost end of the game board 14. Therefore, placement of the pin spots in the manner described increases the skill required to score a high game in the play thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 4, one of the toy pins that is employed in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 29. The toy pin 29 includes a body portion 30 that terminates at the lower end thereof in a base 31 and at the upper end thereof in a neck 32. In the usual construction of bowling pins, the base 31 is considerably smaller with respect to'the body portion than that illustrated in the present invention. However, since it is necessary to provide a relatively stable toy pin to prevent the toppling thereof due to vibration of the game.

board by the spinning top, the construction illustrated in FIG. 4 is employed. As shown in FIG. 4, the diameter of the base 31 has a dimension 0, whereas the diameter of the largest section of the body portion 30 has a dimension b. It is seen that the diameter a of the base 31 exceeds the dimension represented by the difference between the diameter b of the largest section of the body portion 3-9 and the diameter of the base 31. This relationship provides an extremely stable pin that prevents the undue toppliru thereof, and as will be described, the toy pins 29 will be knocked down only upon contact by the spinning top or with another pin struck by the spinning top.

As mentioned hereinabove, the relationship of the toy pins 29 with respect to the distance between the pin spots 24 is critical, and as shown in FIG. 4, the distance d is somewhat less than the full height of the pins 29. The distance represented by the difference between the full height of the pin 29 and the dimension d is indicated at x. Since the height of the pin 29.is greater than the dimension d, toppling of a pin, such as the number 1 pin, for example, in a direction toward the number 2 or number 3 pins will cause these pins to be knocked down. However, the height of the pin 29 is somewhat less than the dimension between pins 1 and 5, 2 and 8, or 8 and 9, for example. By increasing the lateral and longitudinal dimension between these pins .as indicated, the skill required to knock the pins down by the spinning top is increased. Ithas been found that by locating the pin spots 24 in the manner indicated and constructing the toy pins 29 as illustrated in FIG. 4, actual bowling conditions are produced, so that a strike or the knocking down of all the pins with one pass of the spinning top can normally only be achieved when the head or number 1 pin is struck by the spinning top simultaneously with either the number 2 or number3 pin. As will be described, the diameter of the striking portion of the spinning top is such as to simultaneously strike the numberl andnumber 3 pins or the number 1 and the number 2 pin, thereby simulating actual bowling conditions.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and6, the spinning top that is adapted to be utilized in the play of the game. is illustrated and is generally indicated at 34. The top 34 is preferably molded in a unitary construction of a plastic material, though it is understood that other materials,

such as wood or metal, may be utilized without departmg from the spirit of the invention. The spinning top includes a main body that comprises a central multisided striking portion 36 that'is formed by a plurality of sides 37 that defines striking edges 38. Adjacent to the central section 36in concentricrelation with respect thereto is an upper flange 42 and a lowerflange 49. A coaxially located stem 44 extends from the upper flange 44 and is of suificient length to enable the player to grasp it for imparting the spinning motion to the top. An elongated point 46 extends from the lower flange 40 in coaxial relation with respect thereto and has a blunt edge upon which the top spins in the operation thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper flange 42 has a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the lower flange 46 wherein the mass of the lower flange 40 is increased with respect to that of the upper flange 42. By providing this relationship between the flanges 40 and 42, the spinning top 44 is dynamically balanced so that when a clockwise spinning motion is imparted thereto on the inclined game board 14, the top will move in an eccentric fashion but in a generally straight direction toward the pins when released in the starting area between the lateral lines 25 and 26. The diameter of the central section 36 of the spinning top 34 is of sufiicient dimension to enable the striking edges 38 to simultaneously strike the number 1 and 3 pins or the number 1 and 2 pins if the spinning top is properly directed therebetween. Thus the relationship between the toy pins and the spinning top 34 simulates actual bowling conditions, and, if properly directed toward the toy pins, the top 34 will cause all of the pins to fall with a single striking action.

Oftentimes the game board 14 may be placed on a surface which is uneven or not level, and this will cause the pitch of the game board to be altered, thus causing the top to be misdirected toward its intended target. In this event, any of the legs 18 may be adjusted as required to properly locate the game board so that the proper pitch thereof is maintained.

In playing the toy bowling game embodied herein, the pins 29 are placed in position on the spots 24, and the top 34 is then released with a spinning action from the starting area between the lateral lines 25 and 26. Due to the dynamic balancing of the top 34 and the pitch of the game board 14, the spinning top 34 will advance toward the pins and, depending upon the direction imparted to the top by the player, will strike the pins, causing them to fall. The number of pins knocked down by the spinning top 34 will, of course, be determined by the manner in which the top is directed into the pins. Since the pins are spaced in a predetermined manner, the skill of the player will determine how many pins are knocked down on each pass of the top. If desired, the game may be played in the same manner as that of an actual bowling game, and one, two or three passes of the top may be permitted, depending on the type of game played. The game can also be scored in the same manner as that of an actual bowling game, and a score pad for indicating strikes, spares and the running score may be provided to add interest in the play of the game.

While there is shown and described here-in certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manitest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inven- 5 tive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a simulated bowling game for use with a spinning top, a game board having unequal supports at the corners thereof for locating said game board in an inclined position, a marginal frame surrounding said game board and forming an enclosure wall for said game board, said marginal frame including a marginal channel portion and a vertical side Wall joined to said marginal channel portion in indented relation and extending upwardly with respect thereto, the marginal edge of said game board being received within said marginal channel portion, said marginal channel portion including a bottom wall underlying the marginal edge of said game board and in which said supports are secured, a plurality of toy bowling pins for placement on said game board, a plurality of spaced markings located adjacent one end of said game board and defining positions for placement of toy bowling pins, each of said markings being positioned such that a straight line drawn therebetween and at least one other marking is parallel with respect to either the longitudinal or the lateral axis of said base and being further positioned such that a straight line drawn therebetween and another marking is diagonal with respect to either the longitudinal or lateral axis of said game board, the distances between adjacent markings that are located in diagonal relation with respect to each other being equal and slightly less than the height of said pins, while the distances between adjacent markings that are located in straight line relation with respect to each other being equal and greater than the height of said pins.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,252,451 8/41 Anderson 27337 2,282,314 5/42 Houlihan 4664 2,453,610 11/48 Willard 27337 2,906,05 7 9/ 59 Sullivan 46-64 2,946,590 7/60 Bruner 27337 3,051,489 8/62 Goldschmidt 273136 FOREIGN PATENTS 122,095 8/27 Switzerland.

742,531 12/32 France.

989,074 5/51 France.

812,528 9/51 Germany.

0 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT LOWE, Examiner. 

